Long Beach OKs budget cuts, but restores some services

LONG BEACH - After a decade of balancing deficits, City Council members decided that proposed cuts for next year - some of which would have ended youth programs at most parks - were ultimately too close to the bone.

The City Council passed its 2013 spending plan 7-0 late Tuesday, enacting $12.9 million in reductions but staving off some abatements to parks, libraries, police and other services that had been proposed through $17.2 million in downsizing suggested in the budget City Manager Pat West unveiled Aug. 1.

The $396.8 million general fund budget takes effect Oct. 1.

What remains from West's outline still transforms Long Beach's delivery of services, merging the South and West police divisions into a new Central Division, consolidating detective units, implementing a new paramedic service model and taking a fire engine out of service, among other changes.

The budget vote came after hours of discussion over a proposal introduced and approved only hours earlier by the Budget Oversight Committee. Councilman Dee Andrews was absent, while Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske was at the meeting, but left the dais just before the vote.

The plan built off earlier recommendations by West and used $2.1 million in new revenue from oil money and other sources to reinstate library staff, disabled recreation, pool hours, positions at the El Dorado Nature Center and senior programs.

That proposal, which was read into the council's record Tuesday by Councilman Gary DeLong, the budget committee chairman, maintains $3 million for sidewalk repairs and adds $300,000 for tree trimming.

It also increases fees for unspecified park programs, generating $335,000. DeLong said no free programs would be affected.

Ann Cantrell, who organized a petition drive that collected more than 2,000 signatures in support of saving programs at the El Dorado Nature Center, criticized the budget on Wednesday for restoring only $110,000 of staff downsizing instead of the full $165,000 on the cutting board.

Cantrell said the workers are all trained naturalists whose services are of great benefit to the public, and especially children, in urban Long Beach.

"These are part-time positions and they don't even get benefits," she added.

After-school and youth programs at parks - accounted for as a continuing expense in a plan advanced by West last week - were funded with $1.3 million in one-time sources under the approved budget, meaning the council will have to find funding again next year to continue the programs.

In total, $4.3 million of budget items restored through the use of one-time dollars are ongoing expenses, officials said.

The items include the youth programs and $374,000 for a prisoner transport unit.

Another $2.6 million was set aside for police overtime, gang unit officers and neighborhood safety liaisons. How that money is spread among those services will be up to Police Chief Jim McDonnell.

Mayor Bob Foster expressed discomfort over the council's decision to raise the price floor of oil money used in day-to-day expenses from $65 per barrel to $70, generating $1.3 million. If actual oil prices fall below this projection, the city won't have enough money to maintain the budget as approved.

A projected $10.9 million deficit for next year will swell since one-time dollars are being used for structural spending, Foster added.

"And that gives me a lot of heartburn," Foster said. "I want to put that on the table."

Before the vote, Councilman Steven Neal made a motion to continue budget deliberations until next week. The council's deadline for passing a budget each year is Sept. 15.

The motion, which failed 3-5, was seconded by Councilman Al Austin. Schipske also voted to postpone the vote.

"It gives more opportunity for our residents to weigh in, as well as this council to really fine-tune the budget before us," Austin said.

Cantrell, an attendee of the meeting, claimed the budget was "railroaded" through the council.

"I'm disappointed that this budget was rushed through last night before the public even had a chance to see it," Cantrell said.

DeLong said Wednesday that the proposals presented were the result of input from residents and community budget meetings - most of which he attended in his role as budget committee chairman.

"I think that we were prepared, I think we had a full discussion and it was time to move forward," he said.

DeLong, a Republican running for Long Beach's congressional seat against state Sen. Alan Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, compared local lawmakers favorably against those in Sacramento.

"One of the things the Legislature is guilty of is procrastination, but in Long Beach we're not afraid to make difficult decisions," DeLong said.

Earlier in Tuesday's meeting, Schipske also criticized the timing of the decision and protested some aspects of the budget, including the planned but not-yet-specified fire engine reduction.

"That's kind of an interesting way to budget," Schipske said. "We'll get the details after we pass the budget."

Long Beach Fire Chief Mike DuRee has said that the engine selected for mothballing could be identified this week.

While $17.2 million was on the chopping block in City Manager Pat West's proposed budget, the City Council voted Tuesday to save some programs and services by using oil revenue, one-time money and other sources. The spending plan enacted $12.9 million in reductions.